DEEP RUN — All Lisa Smith wants from her South Lenoir softball team is for it to give everything it has.

The Blue Devils have, and that’s why they’re in the third round once again.

South Lenoir (20-3) hosts Whiteville (17-5) at 6 p.m. today in a NCHSAA state 2A third round playoff game. It’s the second year in a row South Lenoir has advanced this far and the third time in the last four seasons.

The Blue Devils are also on an eight-game win streak, one shy of tying their season high of nine.

“All season long we’ve taken it one game at a time and that’s what we’re doing here,” Smith said. “We’re working on the basics. … I truly believe working on the basics every day helps.

“We’re going to go out there and give it our all.”

South Lenoir hosts a team today that is on a bit of a roll itself. Whiteville had won 10 in a row, and, ironically enough, the last team to defeat both the Wolfpack and Blue Devils was East Central 2A Champion Topsail.

And both games were decided by a single run.

South Lenoir’s last loss came on April 16 in a 5-4 defeat to the Pirates. Whiteville’s loss to Topsail was 9-8 in a tournament on April 2.

The Blue Devils were plagued by errors that game — one on which the winning run was scored. Since then, they have buckled down and become more determined to go as deep as possible in the playoffs.

“We made some errors in that game that cost us. We’ve been working harder and have been more focused,” Smith said. “They’ve had some goals — going as far as they can go. They want to reach their goals.

“They’ve come together and just decided, like I said, they’re going to give everything they have.”

One of those goals was to win a conference title, but after falling to Topsail twice the Blue Devils finished second.

With the regular season behind it, South Lenoir is now focused on playing at its best for seven innings, and letting its play take care of the rest.

“No matter what, when you walk off that field, you’ve got to know you’ve given it all you’ve got for yourself and your team,” Smith said. “Good things happen when you do that.”

Ryan Herman can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Ryan.Herman@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter: @KFPSports.

At a glance

What: NCHSAA 2A state softball playoffs, third round

Who: Whiteville (17-5) at South Lenoir (20-3)

Page 2 of 2 - When: Today, 6 p.m.

Of note: The last losses for both South Lenoir (eight straight wins) and Whiteville (10 straight wins) came to Topsail. Each game was decided by one run.